No student needs to face the journey alone. Here you’ll find helpful articles and tools to support your studies - tips from those who've been there and done it, discussions about revising for exams, how to find support if you have a disability, summer study survival tips plus links to all the other OU portals offering tools to support you in being an OU student.
OU graduates asked to apply for second degree scholarship at Cambridge
OU graduates are being invited to apply for a second degree scholarship at Cambridge.
The John Crook Scholarship programme at St John's College, Cambridge, is now entering its third year, and is awarded to a graduate of a British university, who has an exceptional academic record, who is the first in his/her family to attend university, and who may not have considered coming to Cambridge or had the opportunity of doing so.
Candidates will be British citizens and will normally be completing or have completed a full-time three/four year Honours Degree course, at an exceptionally high standard, at a university on the list of those eligible for the scheme (which includes the OU).
The John Crook Scholar will be admitted to St John’s College, Cambridge, to study for a second Bachelor’s Degree in the arts or humanities (excluding law or theological studies), or the Degree of Master of Advanced Studies in mathematics or science subjects. Other options may be available for an appropriately qualified candidate.
The award will be for up to two years (depending on the course), and is fully funded; with a maintenance grant at the rate of at least £10,000 per annum plus payment of approved College and University fees.
Application forms can be downloaded from the College website, or may be obtained from the John Crook Scholarship administrator, in the Tutorial Office at St John’s College, Cambridge, CB2 1TP.
Completed application forms must be received by 1 November 2012 for admission in October 2013.
OU graduates are being invited to apply for a second degree scholarship at Cambridge. The John Crook Scholarship programme at St John's College, Cambridge, is now entering its third year, and is awarded to a graduate of a British university, who has an exceptional academic record, who is the first in his/her family to attend university, and who may not have considered coming to Cambridge or ...
One in 50 UK graduate millionaires studied with the OU
According to the Skandia Millionaire Monitor (published Spring 2012), 1.9 per cent of all UK-based millionaires have Open University degrees. The survey reported on the lifestyle and attitudes of millionaires in six countries: the UK, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Sinagpore and Dubai.
In the UK, three quarters earned their wealth through employment, with 15 per cent achieving it through their own business. The Open University and the University of Bristol (ninth place) had the highest number of millionaire graduates from state schools (around 90 per cent).
Lucian Hudson, Director of Communications at the OU, said: “This is a fresh twist in our drive to provide educational opportunity and social justice! It shows how education truly helps people achieve their career aspirations, whether they are employed or using their skills to run their own businesses.
“Many people, who did not think university was an option for them, have changed their lives through higher education. 18,000 students access education through our targeted access, taster, and Openings programmes, and we further inspire people through our free online learning materials on OpenLearn and our partnership with the BBC.”
The Open University is a world leader in distance learning and a pioneer of teaching and learning methods which enable people to achieve their goals through flexible study that fits around work, family and social commitments.
The OU has been ranked 10th in a list of UK universities with graduate millionaires. Oxford took the top spot, followed by the University of London and Cambridge in third place. According to the Skandia Millionaire Monitor (published Spring 2012), 1.9 per cent of all UK-based millionaires have Open University degrees. The survey reported on the lifestyle and attitudes of ...
iCMA (Starting with Law)
Hello,
I'm doing the Starting with Law module, and was wondering if anybody knew the link to the iCMA part of the course? I went to the suggested link (www.open.as.uk/students), but can't find it anywhere.
Hope somebody has inside information about the whole thing and can help.
Thanks very much,
Leela.
Hello, I'm doing the Starting with Law module, and was wondering if anybody knew the link to the iCMA part of the course? I went to the suggested link (www.open.as.uk/students), but can't find it anywhere. Hope somebody has inside information about the whole thing and can help. Thanks very much, Leela.
How to make an impact with your CV
The forum has been set up in order to help and support students through the intricacies of putting together a CV, to utilise the expertise and experience that already exists within the OU student community, and to share ideas, advice and best practice.
The forum provides an excellent chance to ask about and discuss a whole range of topics related to CVs such as:
- Types of CV you can use
- What are employers looking for on a CV
- How to start a CV from scratch if you haven’t got one
- What to put in a covering letter
- How to disclose a disability in a covering letter
Do you need to put a CV together from scratch? Are you looking to brush up your CV? Then this is the forum for you! To access the forum , go to the Careers Workspace using your OU username and password to log in.
The Careers Advisory Service is running an online forum entitled How to Make an Impact with Your CV which runs from Monday 2 July to Friday 27 July 2012. The forum has been set up in order to help and support students through the intricacies of putting together a CV, to utilise the expertise and experience that already exists within the OU student community, and to share ideas, ...
The A-Z of studying with the OU
A – Access to all! Anyone can study. This is the glory of the OU and in fact it’s the founding principle. You need no previous qualifications and get expert assistance to help you settle in; you don’t have to be academically minded to start studying, I sure as heck wasn’t.
B – Believe that you’re capable. When I first started out with the OU I mistakenly assumed I would manage fine and I got a rude wake-up call. It took me a heck of a long time to realise it would take more than the bare minimum to get by but now I know I’m capable. Anyone is – OU study is easy, you just have to want to do it for it to be that way.
C – There’s a vast community of people you’re automatically a part of as an OU student. Don’t be fooled into thinking that OU study is lonely – it doesn’t have to be. Get online and get chatting!
D – A degree was my aim when I first started out way back when and it seemed too far in the distance for me to achieve. Don’t dwell on the destination – enjoy the journey instead and it’ll make it a lot more enjoyable.
E – An EMA (or, the assessment formerly known as an ECA) is like a mini dissertation, although it’s never THAT much longer than a standard TMA. I always spend far too much energy fretting over an EMA.
F – Feedback from your tutors is absolutely worth paying attention to. I didn’t do this for years and have only recently realised how stupid I’ve been to ignore it – the tutors are tutors for a reason so they know what they’re talking about. Besides, different subjects require different essay styles so pay attention to what your tutor says.
G – Grades are different with the OU and good lord it took me ages to figure it out! Not only are the percentage brackets different but the gradings are named differently too – I got a Grade 3 pass which I’m assured is a 2:2, although to be honest I don’t care – I passed, that’s enough for me!
H – Home is your haven. Home is where you’ll (probably) do most of your studying. I hate studying at home, I get nothing done and end up with a cat (or two) sitting on my books staring at me in an attention seeking manner. Little buggers.
I – iCMAs are a more recent appearance on Open Uni modules. They didn’t have them when I started all those many moons ago – they’re computer based assessments usually consisting of multiple choice questions. Typically found on level 1 modules and typically easy.
J – Juggling is a skill a lot of OU students have. No, seriously – we’re experts at juggling work, study and home lives simultaneously and the longer you’ve been studying the easier it gets. Non-students think we’re superhuman for fitting it all in but in reality, a lot of people waste a lot of their time without realising it; OU students just waste it reading books and writing essays instead.
K – If knowledge is power then the OU is like the weight-lifter of the academic world. Without sounding trite the OU has given me more than just academic knowledge though. I’ve gained knowledge through putting into practice what I’ve learned and also knowledge about my own capabilities; a very powerful bit of knowledge indeed, although I could do with some knowledge about what to do with that knowledge.
L – Level 1, 2 & 3 enable you to start at the beginning and improve your reading and essay writing skills as you progress through your studies. I tried to jump straight to level 3 on a subject I wasn’t practiced in but it ended disastrously and tarred me as a drop-out.
M – Modules are the units of study formerly known as courses. Modules make up qualifications and range in ‘value’ from 10 credit points up to 60 credit points. In comparison, a full time student studies 120 credit points per year so an average part timer will do 60 per year. I’ve been known to do 90 and let me tell you – it ain’t easy!
N – Next module. My StudentHome page keeps asking what my next module is and I feel like I’m letting it down if I don’t have something lined up. This is part of the reason I’ve ended up carrying on with my studies – because I like seeing a healthy StudentHome page and feel guilty if it’s blank!
O – Decades after you’ve finished with your OU study your OUCU (OU computer username, pronounced ‘oo-koo’) will be permanently imprinted in your memory. EVERYTHING you do on the OU website starts with your OUCU.
P – Practice makes perfect so don’t be disheartened if you don’t get marks in the 80s straight away (or ever, for that matter!). I’ve been studying for almost 10 years and have only twice got a grade in the 80s. Not everyone is a naturally brilliant student – what matters is that you’re doing it.
Q – Qualification. In the old days you didn’t have to sign up to a qualification straight away but that’s the way the government is heading. Now, when you register on your first module it’s expected that you’ve already mentally committed yourself to six years of part time study and know what qualification you want.
R – Reading. Learn to love it because you do lots of it with the OU. Understandable though since you’re not getting taught in a classroom setting so you get lots of reading to do. It generally increases in volume with the different levels and Philosophy seems to involve WAY more than any other subject I’ve studied!
S – StudentHome is your lifeline. Everything you need to know about studying is accessed through your StudentHome page so it’s worth taking some time to familiarise yourself with it.
T – Has to be for TMAs. The backbone of Open University study and the thing that keeps you regular, no, not in that way but keeps your studying regular by being due roughly every month. The TMA quickly becomes the focal point in your diary and the date is constantly in back of your mind, gnawing away like a beaver on speed.
U – Undergraduate fees, although vastly increased thanks to this government are still a heck of a lot cheaper with the OU – roughly half the cost of a standard brick uni so I honestly don’t know why the OU is sometimes ignored as a straight-from-school option for many teenagers. Baffling.
V – Value for money has to be the OU’s biggest selling point. For half the cost of a campus-based university you’re able to access award winning, world renowned, quality assured modules which lead to a very highly thought of qualification.
W – Weekday, weekend, waxing, waning, it doesn’t matter where you are or what time it is, the OU is ready to teach whenever you are. No classes to go to, no timetable to stick to, just you whenever you’re ready, willing and able.
X – Xenophobia isn’t something the OU practices and in fact OU modules are available all across the world. However, you can learn all about how xenophobia and religious conflict in AA307 - Religion in history: conflict, conversion and coexistence.
Y – Yearning for learning. I wonder what the percentage difference is between those students who end up loving studying and those who still hate it following their OU studies. I can’t be the only one who has developed this yearning for never-ending learning?
Z – Zealot, that’s me. Since beginning my studies with the OU I’ve turned into a complete OU zealot. I love studying, with every scrap of thanks due to the OU for helping me see how enjoyable and rewarding it can be. With all my heart, thank you for changing the very fabric of me.
A – Access to all! Anyone can study. This is the glory of the OU and in fact it’s the founding principle. You need no previous qualifications and get expert assistance to help you settle in; you don’t have to be academically minded to start studying, I sure as heck wasn’t. B – Believe that you’re capable. When I first started out with the OU I mistakenly ...
Open University Guarantee to help students in England start studying
The scheme will help students in England who are likely to be eligible for a student loan (tuition fee loan) to start studying even if they haven’t received confirmation of the loan.
The OU Guarantee
- If someone has registered to study with the OU in the academic year 2012/13, passes the OU’s loan eligibility check and applies for a student loan, the OU offers a guarantee that a delay or refusal from Student Finance England won’t stop them from starting their studies and that:
- The OU will cover the cost of their first module if they pass our eligibility check but are unable to obtain a loan when they apply to Student Finance England; they can start studying this autumn, even if their loan has yet to be confirmed.
Will Swann, Director, Students, said: “Student loans have been part of full-time university study for years, but they are new to part-time students. We want to reassure students who might be worried that they won’t be approved for a student loan in time, that this doesn’t need to be a barrier to study.
“To help give people the confidence to start studying for a qualification, we’ve put in place the OU Guarantee. If potential students register to start studying for an Open University qualification between September 2012 and August 2013, and if they appear to be eligible for a student loan and apply for one, we will provide them with the reassurance that they can start their studies, no matter what.”
Potential students will initially be able to see if they are likely to be eligible for a student loan if the following three statements are true for them:
1. I am planning to study for an undergraduate qualification
2. I am planning to study my first qualification, or one that is higher than any I already have
3. I am resident in England
As potential students then go through the process of registering for a qualification and choosing their modules, they will be asked to complete a detailed check to indicate their eligibility for a student loan and therefore the OU Guarantee.
More information is available here.
At the end of May, the OU launched its Ways to Pay video to help people in England understand the new and different options for funding part-time study with the OU. As well as the Government’s student loans, the OU offers its own loan system, and its Access to Success Route to help people on low incomes, as well as the opportunity for people to pay upfront if they prefer. In addition, over 10 per cent of OU students are sponsored by their employers. More information about Ways to Pay can be found here.
What you can do to help
You can help spread the word about the OU Guarantee and OU Ways to Pay campaigns by sharing these messages across your networks and following the hashtags on Twitter - #OU_guarantee and #OUways2pay
The OU has launched the OU Guarantee to help new students start their studies this autumn even if they haven’t received their student loan confirmation before their course starts. The scheme will help students in England who are likely to be eligible for a student loan (tuition fee loan) to start studying even if they haven’t received confirmation of the ...
Why studying doesn't have to be too expensive...
I lived alone when I first embarked on my studies. I was four years into my mortgage and earning a pittance but still I decided that stumping up for a degree was a worthy investment of what little disposable income I had. Cost was the single most important factor in deciding whether I could afford to do the degree or not but – and without sounding trite – the OU couldn’t have made it simpler for me.
At the time I started, the cost of a 60 point module seemed a lot to fork out for when you’re lucky if you have £100 a month disposable income so I started researching the payment options available. That’s when I stumbled across OUSBA – the Open University Student Budget Account. OUSBA turned out to be the OU’s gift to me from the gods. It works like a ‘sort of’ loan in that the cost of your fees are spread out over the duration of your module. There’s a small amount of interest but it’s minimal compared to a bank loan.
'It’s the best way to pay if you don’t want to have to take out a loan but can’t afford to pay upfront'
Of course the cost of a module is increasing in the new fees regime but the OUSBA account is still a tremendous provision from the OU and I believe it’s the best way to pay if you don’t want to have to take out a loan but can’t afford to pay upfront. I can say in all honesty that if it weren’t for my OUSBA account I probably wouldn’t have been able to afford my studies.
Of course there are other options for paying – either paying upfront or taking out one of the government tuition fee loans or getting sponsored by your employer. Unfortunately the latter wasn’t ever an option for me as my degree was completely unrelated to my job but if it had been then I would definitely have asked because a lot of the time employers can get grants from training companies for your fees anyway. There’s never any harm in asking. Shy bairns get nowt, as my mother always says.
'It somewhat irritates me when I hear people saying that studying is too expensive'
I think the increase in undergraduate fees is spooking a lot of people and making them assume they’ll not be able to afford to study. This is such a misnomer and it somewhat irritates me when I hear people saying that studying is too expensive. It irritates me even more when I hear grumblings about the tuition fee loans – the repayment is a minimal percentage of anything you earn over £21k so if you don’t earn over £21k you don’t pay anything back and if you earn £30k you only pay back £67 a month. That sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me in exchange for a qualification which will no doubt increase in worth as fewer people decide to do them because of the ‘cost implication’ *rolls eyes*.
OUSBA in particular however, is my lifeline. I’m not so keen on the idea of taking out a long term loan when if I do a bit of penny pinching I can comfortably afford the instalments on an OUSBA account so if there’s a way you can afford to pay by instalments then I’d strongly urge the use of this incredible provision by the OU.
'No excuse could justify me NOT getting the education I craved and needed'
It doesn’t really matter what payment method people decide upon to pay for their education though, the important point is that there are plenty of ways to do so and many of them are incredibly affordable. There’s a method for every scenario – low income (Access to Success), no income (tuition fee loan), working student (OUSBA) or career improver (employer sponsorship). Really, there’s not a lot left in the excuse bucket if you’re trying to talk yourself out of studying. I realised that before I even started studying and decided that no excuse could justify me NOT getting the education I craved and needed. I have to say, that was definitely one of the more sensible decisions I’ve ever made in my lifetime.
For those of you thinking about studying with the OU, here’s a handy little video which explains the different ways to pay for OU study (in England only), and you can find more information here.
If you’re a current student, you’ll find more info about planning your studies here.
I lived alone when I first embarked on my studies. I was four years into my mortgage and earning a pittance but still I decided that stumping up for a degree was a worthy investment of what little disposable income I had. Cost was the single most important factor in deciding whether I could afford to do the degree or not but – and without sounding trite – the OU couldn’t have ...
How lonely/isolated an experience is OU?
Hi All,
I'm strongly considering embarking on an OU degree in Psychology.
Coming to the realisation that I want to do a degree at the age of 30 means that attending a conventional university would be very difficult due to travel costs and work commitments (not to mention stringent entry requirements).
After visiting a university recently (enjoyed chatting with course tutors etc) I started to wonder about how lonely and isolated studying with OU might be...
Obviously, I appreciate that the point of OU is that you can fit it in around life commitments. However, surely a subject like Psychology would benefit from group discussion? How easy is it to learn from a youtube video, as opposed to a human teacher actually engaging you in person?
In short, what I would like to know is: Is there any social aspect to OU at all, beyond message boards etc?
Many Thanks in advance for any replies.
Cheers! Oli.
Hi All, I'm strongly considering embarking on an OU degree in Psychology. Coming to the realisation that I want to do a degree at the age of 30 means that attending a conventional university would be very difficult due to travel costs and work commitments (not to mention stringent entry requirements). After visiting a university recently (enjoyed chatting with course tutors etc) I started to ...
Changes to ILA 200 funding
ILA 200 - Important changes
ILA 200 - Important changes Changes to the ILA 200 scheme have recently been announced which may affect some OU students. From July 2012 the following students will no longer be able to benefit from the ILA 200 scheme: Students who already hold a degree of a UK university (or overseas equivalent) Students who are also studying elsewhwere at Secondary, Further or Higher Education level, ...
Student returns to scene of crime!
A thriller writer and former Open University student who ‘returned to the scene of the crime’ as an OU teacher, hopes her second novel will be published before Christmas.
And she believes her studies opened the door to fulfilling her desire to be a successful writer, while combining her work as an associate lecturer for the OU’s Openings course in psychology.
“In the beginning, I studied what interested me, but then the psychology degree was for my work with special needs students,” said Jennie.
Jennie, who now works predominantly as an author and screenwriter, has had much success with her first novel, Death of the Elver Man, which was short-listed for the Impress Prize in 2010 under its original title On the Level. The second novel, The Drowners, is due out towards the end of the year with Jennie aiming to plot out the last two books in the series next year.
“I've found the OU studies invaluable, especially the psychology, which has helped with the crime thrillers. I was considered a failure at school, a waste of a grammar school place. But I know now I can do anything I want if I try hard enough; my self-discipline is so much better than when I was younger.
“I am mildly dyslexic and I have dyspraxia and I find being in a strange place and meeting new people very stressful. With the OU I could control my environment completely.”
She funded her courses through a small council grant for summer schools, and used an instalment plan for many of the modules.
Of all her achievements she is most proud of her French certificate.
“With my dyslexia I was told I would never be able to learn another language, but the
OU language courses are excellent. My BA helped me get a post in an art college teaching Higher and Further Education students and the BSc Psychology enabled me to test and support students with learning difficulties. It has also helped in my new career as a writer of crime thrillers.”
Jennie regularly attends and takes part in readings with other authors, most recently at Middlesbrough Literary Festival in June and the University of Teeside in May.
Find out more:
A thriller writer and former Open University student who ‘returned to the scene of the crime’ as an OU teacher, hopes her second novel will be published before Christmas. Jennie Finch joined the OU as a student in 1980 and completed two degrees (BA Hons and BSc Hons Psychology) as well as post graduate modules and a certificate in French. And she believes her ...
Anybody starting DD101 in October ?
Hi! Anybody else studying DD101 in October ? :-) Would lovE to speak to some others that will be starting :-) also, anyone from or near stoke on Trent? X
Hi! Anybody else studying DD101 in October ? :-) Would lovE to speak to some others that will be starting :-) also, anyone from or near stoke on Trent? X
First class degree leads to career growth for Jake
Recent graduate Jake Smith has just gained a big promotion at work to Senior Marketing Manager at Legal & General. He believes his OU degree and commitment to studies were very positively received during his job interview and played a part in him successfully getting the job.“It shows employers that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it.”
Jake initially studied with the OU to improve his knowledge of web design but decided to continue on to a degree. Platform caught up with him at his degree ceremony in Brighton.
First course led to a degree
Once I saw the breadth of courses the OU offered and realised that my qualification would be able to count towards a degree it was even more attractive. I had taken a number of one day training courses with professional training companies through work and though useful they were not in depth enough and really only taught you parrot fashion rather than explaining theory as well as practice and giving you the opportunity to really learn.”
Dreams of becoming a rock star
I had "dropped out" of a degree straight after school to try and be a rock star, with (unfortunately) limited success, 15 years later it felt like unfinished business and so the OU with its flexibility, great reputation and value for money seemed ideal. I knew that I would not be able to afford to do a full time course as my wife was self employed and pregnant with our first child, but I thought that with the wide range of courses I could find a route that would help me develop and give me new opportunities.”
Work supported studies
The OU certificate was really helpful to my role at Legal & General, I was in a role that was very new at my company, there was no real training available in house and so we looked externally. The reputation of the OU meant that my employers were supportive and understood the benefit of me studying, paying for my courses and giving me some study time. The skills I gained from the course really helped me develop in my role and led to a promotion and helped me identify a future career path and gain recognition for my skills and knowledge at work.
Once I had finished the course I discovered that I really enjoyed learning with the OU and so I continued with additional modules which were not work related to complete my degree. My employers were still supportive of my study, giving me interest free loans for the courses. Although my degree ended up being in a different field (Music and technology) many of the skills I developed, such as the ability to take in a large amount of information and make sense of it, writing properly structured essays and managing my time were extremely useful.
Internal promotion at work
Although I am still at the same company, I have been able to move into new areas of the business and can justify my claim that I am a quick learner and able to adapt and take on new skills.
A CV certainly looks much stronger with a degree on it (especially a First Class one!) this is really important when a recruiting manager is making decisions on who to interview. Having the OU on my CV has sparked a question in every interview since I starting studying, and has always been seen in a really positive light. The reputation for quality helps, but so does the recognition of the commitment it takes to study whilst holding down a full time job and starting a family!
Advice for those thinking of doing a degree
The advice I would give is to go for it! You shouldn't underestimate the effort required, but as with most things in life, you get out what you put in. There's no need to put it off, I managed to gain my degree at the same time as holding down a full time job and my wife giving birth to two children. Most importantly make sure you choose something you really want to study or learn about, that way the work always feels meaningful and worthwhile. The huge range of courses available and the quality of the teaching materials, plus the support from tutors and fellow students meant that I really enjoyed my time studying with the OU, in fact where is the prospectus, I reckon I could do some more!
A quote from Jake’s manager: John Laney Head of Marketing, Legal & General
“Jake started his study for the OU with a course on web design that was supported by Legal & General and gave him an excellent grounding in the skills and knowledge necessary for his role. The company has a policy of supporting wider learning and we were happy to do so for Jake. As his current manager I would say that his personal development during his study and the successful completion of his degree were positive contributions in his career development. A good degree from a respected University is a key factor in today's world for securing more senior professional positions.”
Find out more:
Recent graduate Jake Smith has just gained a big promotion at work to Senior Marketing Manager at Legal & General. He believes his OU degree and commitment to studies were very positively received during his job interview and played a part in him successfully getting the job.“It shows employers that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it.” Jake initially studied ...
OU launches ‘ways to pay’ video for new part-time students in England
Recent research showed that 71 per cent of people considering access to Higher Education in England are either unsure or feel they don’t have enough information about the study funding options available to them*.
The video takes potential students on a whistle-stop tour through the Government’s tuition fee loans, financial support for those with low incomes, the OU’s own loan system OUSBA, employer sponsorship and paying upfront.
Bev Stewart, Director, Student Recruitment and Financial Support, says: “There is a perception that the increase in university fees has made university study inaccessible for many, but this isn’t the case. There is a wide range of payment options for new part-time students which means cost shouldn’t be a barrier to gaining a university-level education.”
How you can help spread the word
The OU is encouraging members of its community to spread the word about this video to help new students in England understand the funding options available to them, should they decide to take up OU study. You can share this link on your blogs, Facebook and Google+ pages and by sharing the message below on Twitter.
Find out more:
*Research commissioned by The Open University in April 2012 showed that 71 per cent of people interested in entering Higher Education in England were either unsure or felt they didn’t have enough information around the funding options available to them. The research was undertaken by DJS Research on behalf of The Open University. Sample: 1,590 respondents who were interested in studying at university in the next five years.
The OU has released a video to highlight the different ways new students in England can pay for part-time study from September 2012, when higher education funding changes come into effect. And you’re being invited to help spread the word! Recent research showed that 71 per cent of people considering access to Higher Education in England are either unsure or feel they ...
OU announces changes to discount scheme for union members
The OU has today (Tuesday 29 May) announced that it’s withdrawing the union fee discount for new undergraduate students.
The discount withdrawal applies to new undergraduates beginning their study in England from 1 September 2012, and is due to changes to the way higher education is funded in England and the cost associated with maintaining the scheme.
Changes to the way higher education is funded in England have reduced the OU’s income by more than £90 million. The OU is therefore reviewing all of its costs in order to protect services to students and keep fees as low as possible, while sustaining high quality and remaining true to its mission of being open to all.
The OU remains committed to the union partnerships which have been successful under the previous funding system. However, the new funding arrangements mean the OU needs to explore new ways to maintain and develop opportunities for trades union members in England to study with the OU.
Government changes mean that the vast majority of part-time students in England considering starting their studies after 1 September 2012 can now access student loans for the very first time. Students accessing the government’s Part-time Tuition Fee Loan can defer payment of their fees until four years after commencing their studies and will only begin repayments if they are earning more than £21,000.
The arrangements for the funding of higher education are different across the four nations of the UK and internationally. To find out more about the financial support options that may be available to you, please see here.
For more information, including FAQs, please visit www.open.ac.uk/uniondiscount
What do you think of the discount withdrawal? Share your thoughts in the forum here (and please note you'll need to be logged in with your OU username and password to do so)
The OU has today (Tuesday 29 May) announced that it’s withdrawing the union fee discount for new undergraduate students. The discount withdrawal applies to new undergraduates beginning their study in England from 1 September 2012, and is due to changes to the way higher education is funded in England and the cost associated with maintaining the scheme. For students ...
What do yout think about withdrawal of union discount?
The OU has announced it’s withdrawing the union fee discount for new undergraduate students. What do you think?
The OU has announced it’s withdrawing the union fee discount for new undergraduate students. What do you think?
Leaving the OU
So basically I thought I'd see if there's any point stressing myself out finishing the ema or even doing the last icma? As far as the ema goes, I can only really answer three out of the five questions anyways as I really just dont 'get' some of the content.
Are there any financial penalties etc from the OU if I don't submit the ema and the icma? - there just doesn't seem any point in doing them anymore.
I found out late yesterday I only received partial funding for my next course. This basically means my OU study is over. I've spoken to Learning Support and they say there's nothing they can do - ok I could get into debt via student loan or pay so much a month, the former we don't want to do and the latter we can't afford - money is really tight at the minute and im not sure how long my job will last for as the building lease ends soon.
So basically I thought I'd see if there's any point stressing myself out finishing the ema or even doing the last icma? As far as the ema goes, I can only really answer three out of the five questions anyways as I really just dont 'get' some of the content. Are there any financial penalties etc from the OU if I don't submit the ema and the icma? - there just doesn't seem any point in doing ...
Students wanted to test new government website
Fancy testing a new government website focused on student finance? New site www.gov.uk is in testing stage and feedback is being sought from students on the student finance section of the site. Members of the OU student community are invited to review the website and provide feedback directly.
In order to do so, please visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator
The feedback form is highlighted prominently at the top of the page.
Fancy testing a new government website focused on student finance? New site www.gov.uk is in testing stage and feedback is being sought from students on the student finance section of the site. Members of the OU student community are invited to review the website and provide feedback directly. In order to do so, please visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator The feedback form is ...
Latest course results (2011)
Take at look at the results for those courses which ended in 2011. The following PDF contains the results of most 30 and 60-point courses in 2011, just click the link below to view them.
Please note the Platform team are unable to address any questions about the course results information and any queries must be sent to examinations@open.ac.uk in order for them to be answered.
Take at look at the results for those courses which ended in 2011. The following PDF contains the results of most 30 and 60-point courses in 2011, just click the link below to view them. Course results 2011 Please note the Platform team are unable to address any questions about the course results information and any queries must be sent to examinations@open.ac.uk in order for them ...
To quit my engineering module?
Hello,
I'm currently studying a T211 and T207 course, of which I find T211 extremely enjoyable. Although I’m finding T207 (Engineering) to be extremely hard and requiring much more of my time. I was under the assumption that this course would be a 'light' approach to engineering, but it deals with some extremely difficult equations and methods which are mind twisting to me. I'm finding my lack maths skills, to be a hindrance and I’m using sites like educator and khan academy to help me on these topics, but even than I’m left just wanting to know more. I'm currently just finished my TMA 3 and I'm finding my scores are very low, I’m avoiding half the question as i simply do not understand them, even asking my tutor to explain them further. So I’m wondering have i chosen something of which is to hard for me and should I decide to call it quits? Or is it a case I’m not being organised properly and efficiently? Could anyone give me any tips of maybe how to deal with such a situation?
Thanks.
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Hello, I'm currently studying a T211 and T207 course, of which I find T211 extremely enjoyable. Although I’m finding T207 (Engineering) to be extremely hard and requiring much more of my time. I was under the assumption that this course would be a 'light' approach to engineering, but it deals with some extremely difficult equations and methods which are mind twisting to me. I'm finding ...
Colin's gift to future OU students
Joyce didn’t go to university herself but started work aged 13 following the outbreak of the Second World War. Over the years she was always interested in Colin’s studies and would have enjoyed further study, he says. Even in her later years when she sadly developed Alzheimer’s, she was incredibly quick and could do mental arithmetic faster than anyone else he knew.
Looking back Colin says: “I’d say ‘what is 5x17?’ and she would come back with the answer so quickly. We had to learn times tables at school by heart in those days and at the time it’s a nuisance but later in life you realise how valuable it is. One of the young carers who looked after my sister commented that she was quicker than a computer.”
Because of this link, Colin made a donation to help future students at the OU.
“In particular I’d like to support students with disabilities but support anybody who would have benefited from a university education, but couldn't afford it.”
Colin personally gained a huge amount from his studies. He enjoyed the social aspects: meeting tutors and fellow students, both in person and online and learned some things about himself.
“It’s taught me to be a bit more patient with people as we are all at different levels of experience and comprehension; that I don’t know everything and the importance of continuing education for people if they get the chance to do it.”
After quite a few years of OU study, Colin is taking a break to pursue another item on his to do list: writing a book.
“I’ve decided I’d like to write a prescriptive grammar book and am basing it on some notes I have from grammar school in the 1940s.”
And after that? Who knows….?
Find out more:
With his OU degree complete, Colin Hume can tick off another item on the ‘to do’ list he compiled following his retirement. And now, with a BA, BSc and Post Graduate Diploma under his belt, he wants the chance to help someone else enjoy the experience of OU study by making a donation in his sister’s memory. Joyce didn’t go to university herself but ...
